Celebrate the square!

A mix of new and well-known local talent along with other distinguished guests will help Queen Charlotte celebrate the grand opening of Spirit Square on Saturday. Mayor Carol Kulesha says the street will be closed in front of the Northern Savings Credit Union while the party goes between 4 and 10 pm on September 10. She’s happy that Liberal MLA Colin Hansen will be on the islands to represent the province, one of the major funders of the project. “He’s been a great supporter of the islands,” she said. Without the original Spirit Square funding, the project would have never gotten underway. She also credits the Gwaii Trust for providing the funding for the village to purchase the property in 2007. Northern Development Trust has also been a major supporter and CEO Janine North will come to the islands for the grand opening. Two VIPs that will not be coming are North Coast MLA Gary Coons and Coast Sustainability Trust’s Eric van Soeren (another funder) both of whom sent their regrets. Parks Canada via the neighbouring Visitor Information Centre has supported the project as well, says Mayor Kulesha and at the grand opening, the new touch tank aquarium at the VIC will be celebrated too. Mayor Kulesha said volunteers have been a major part of the project, including Brian Eccles who headed the team of landscapers. Community members have also helped set the vision for the community space. Most recently, a water fountain with a lower drinking area for dogs has been installed. The village staff is still willing to engrave people’s names in the pavers at the site too, so contact them if you are interested. Still to be completed as of Sept. 2, was the copper top for the barrel vault and the floor material on the stage. Mayor Kulesha said she hoped these would be done by Sept. 10, but no matter what, the party would go ahead. “This phase is coming to a close,” she said. But work will still continue to create a paver path across the causeway to meet up with the new dock leading down onto the floats and a safe path being developed around the community hall. Both of these pieces are part of a larger vision to connect the two commercial cores in Queen Charlotte. The village recently received word that this $300,000 project will be funded with support from the West Coast Community Adjustment program. There will be food, music and fireworks at the September 10 Spirit Square celebration as the village recognizes the many volunteers, workers and organizations who helped make the community gathering site possible. Come one, come all.